1 Samuel 08
Israel Seeks a King
8:1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
As Samuel grew older, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. Judgeship was always appointed by God and was never decided by nepotism.
8:2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.
Joel means “Jehovah is God." Abijah means “my father is Jehovah." Samuel gave his children godly names.
8:3 But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.
Samuel was a great judge, an outstanding prophet, and a tremendous man of God, but he was not a good father. His sons were unworthy and incompetent for the job.
8:4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.
The elders feared that they may have another situation similar to that of Eli and his apostate sons.
8:5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”
Even after Jehovah supernaturally routed the Israelites, Israel still asked for a king. Deuteronomy 17:14-15 predicted that God would eventually raise up a king for Israel. However, the king who God had in mind was not yet ready.
8:6 But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
Israel was a theocracy. Jehovah was Israel’s king. What man could rule better than Jehovah? Samuel was not happy about this request, so he prayed about it.
8:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.
Israel rejected Jehovah as their king, so now Jehovah was going to give them a human king.
8:8 Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.
Jehovah was rejected by Israel the very first day of the Exodus. Man does not want to be redeemed either physically or spiritually by his Creator. If man was left alone, he would prefer just to live out his life without divine interference, die, and then enter into hell.
8:9 So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”
Samuel was to warn Israel of the dangers of accepting a human king.
8:10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.
Samuel informed Israel that they would get their human king, but they would not like it.
8:11 He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.
These kings will draft the children into the army. Many will run in front of the king’s chariot and lose their lives.
8:12 He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.
These kings will draft men for large agricultural, weapon, chariot, and building projects.
8:13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.
These kings will take the people’s daughters for their personal servants.
8:14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants.
These kings will take the best fields and vineyards and give them to their own servants.
8:15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.
These kings will distribute heavy agricultural taxes.
8:16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.
These kings will take sons for their service and daughters for their harems. These kings will take the best livestock from the people for their own use.
8:17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.
All of the people will be serfs to these kings, paying a tenth of their flocks to them.
8:18 In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”
The people will eventually cry out to God about the absolute corruption of these kings, but God will not answer their prayers.
8:19 But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!
Israel did not understand Machiavelli’s premise that “absolute power corrupts absolutely."
8:20 We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”
Israel wanted to be enslaved to kings like the other pagan nations. All of the other kings of the pagan nations were cruel, selfish, and ruthless.
8:21 So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.
Samuel listened to their request and reported back to Jehovah.
8:22 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”
Jehovah informed Samuel to give them a king.